Following in the footsteps of rival Tesla Motors, Fisker Automotive announced on Wednesday that it seeks to hire 120 new employees for its Wilmington, Del. plant in anticipation of the production of its second model, code-named "Project Nina."

The vehicle will be a plug-in hybrid mid-size premium sedan, much like Tesla's all-electric Model S. To build it, Fisker will hire 40 electromechanical technicians in July and August and 80 new production employees between October 2011 and February 2012.

The Delaware News-Journal reports that prototypes will appear "early next year," with full production expected in Q4 2012.

Since last June, when the company purchased the plant for $20 million, 11.2 million pounds of iron, aluminum, steel and wood have been trucked out of the facility and sold at a $1.4 million profit, according to company officials.

Fisker Chief Operating Officer and co-founder Bernhard Koehler said today the company plans to ramp production over a three-year schedule. About 100,000 cars could roll out of the plant in 2014. Koehler said the company intends to share additional production details soon.

Like many U.S. states, Delaware has been hemorrhaging manufacturing jobs. Will Fisker help turn the tide?

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